Longtime Rangers fan dies with team one win from title

The Texas Rangers have plenty of their own motivation to clinch the World Series in Thursday night's Game 6, but perhaps they can find room for one more reason.

Winning one for Heneri Ann Short.

The 76-year-old from Red Oak, Texas, was a big Rangers fan who had been battling cancer for several months. She was recently profiled in the Dallas Morning News and was quoted by the paper when telling her doctors that she had only one dying wish:

"I only want to live long enough to see the Rangers win the World Series," she said.

Unfortunately, the paper reports that Short passed away on Wednesday night, when the Rangers might have clinched their first title had it not been for the rain postponement in St. Louis.

That seems like a total bummer, but her survivors are taking solace in the fact that Heneri will have the best seats in the house if and when the Rangers finally get there.

"Sadly, Heneri went to her heavenly home last night around 7 p.m.," Marian Cockerham, a family member, wrote to the paper. "We would like to believe that she chose to do this so she could watch the final game tonight with her husband and son, and cheer the Rangers on to victory."

So at least there's that. However, if you want further proof that life isn't fair, consider this: Earlier this World Series, 98-year-old Clementine Wilkerson received a lot of attention for being present at all 18 Cardinals World Series appearances, seeing her team win the big prize at least 10 times.